The Culling 2 Removed From Stores, Original Game Re-Launched (VIDEO)
Developer Xaviant Games was in a monumental bind when it moved forward to release The Culling 2. The battle royale sequel was not at all anticipated by the gaming public and suffered through one of the worst launches in recent memory. The ordeal was clearly an eye-opening experience for the studio, with complaints of poor design and “selling out” coming in from all across the gaming spectrum.
In response to the widespread criticism and poor sales, Xaviant has released a video addressing The Culling 2‘s failure and detailed their immediate plans for the future. Describing the recent launch as “unsuccessful,” studio director Josh Van Veld announced the sequel’s removal from Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One stores, promising refunds to anyone that purchased the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24rR69Ygn20
In regards to Xaviant’s future, Van Veld continued by announcing the studio’s refocus toward the first Culling, restarting development from the original “Day One” build. One of the most common complaints from fans had been the numerous changes made to the base gameplay over the years, a quality that continued into The Culling 2. Recognizing this early popularity, Van Veld explained his team’s desire to bring back The Culling in its original form, while applying updates that keep the original gameplay intact.
We changed it out from under you and I want to apologise for that.”
The Day One edition of The Culling is set to be available on PC this week, and Xaviant plans to keep this version on its test servers for as long as development lasts. As for the first update, Van Veld explains that it will be a heavily-modified version of the most current October 2017 update, imbuing the game with the most beloved qualities from the Day One build. He also announced plans to adopt a free-to-play platform also debuting with this next update.
With such a disappointing release under their belt, it’d be understandable if Xaviant chose to bury their heads in the sand and go dormant. The fact that the studio not only admit fault, but also wants to improve their standing with fans is a refreshing and admirable route for them to take. Hopefully, this complete back-to-basics do-over will pay off in the long run, and will be just what The Culling needs to reclaim its original success.
What do you think? Are you happy to hear The Culling is going back to the glory days, or will you need more than words to trust Xaviant again? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more from the realm of battle royale, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
